Geopolitics of Silk Road

Abstract

This paper will investigate the history of Silk Road in changing patterns of Geopolitics. Historically, it remained only a road or a route but a fragment of history that connects East and West. It consists of network of routes, trails and trading posts starting from China, scattered across Central Asia, penetrating South Asia and reaching across Europe. The term Silk Road was used for this route as Silk, which was before 7th century exclusively produced in China was the main product being exported to European lands. Empires like Persian, Roman as well as regions of Middle East, Central Asia, and Subcontinent and as far as Russia were involved in the exchange which reveals an earlier version of globalization. Knowledge, inventions and religions were the commodities which travelled through this route. In the contemporary world i.e 21st century China is treading through similar paths to ensure its sustainability and development. “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) Initiative announced in 2013, is the name of a plan to revive and better the spirit of the old silk road and a step towards realizing the prediction of the Asian century. The OBOR consists of various mega-projects, but the main two programs are “the Maritime Silk Road” (MSR) and the “Silk Road Economic Belt” (SREB).